Comey fired - the Justice letters

Here is the letter that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein sent Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the cause for the president to dismiss FBI Director James Comey, and the letter that Sessions sent to President Trump recommending Comey's termination.

First, Rosentein's, in three parts:

AG Session's letter to the president:

(Source)

My first impression is that Comey was put, without his cooperation, in an impossible position by the machinations of the previous administration. He knew this full and well and took action accordingly. Did he cross professional, ethical and perhaps Constitutional lines? Of course he did.

But his former superiors had moved the lines severely and that was the far greater offense against public confidence and Constitutional integrity. All that happened to them was retiring with honors after their party's candidate botched the election. But James Comey gets thrown under the bus.

Second, even if one agrees that the DOJ's stated reasons for Comey's dismissal are valid and sound, this dismissal was done in a stunningly stupid manner. Why did the White House handle it with such ill grace and in fact apparent hostility? I see no reason to believe that Comey's deeds were malicious; they seem poorly decided rather than ill intended.

Why not call Comey over, tell him the inevitable, and then allow him to step down without shaming him before the country?

Was there (and is there) a lack of confidence in the leadership of the FBI? Yes, leaders on the left and right have said that before today. But the ineptitude and indeed, crudity, with which this dismissal was handled doesn't boost my confidence in the White House, either.

Update: From the BBC

Also, apart from the Keystone Kops manner of the White House in dismissing Comey, USA Today says Comey had to go.

In fact, Comey had been a dead man walking for some time. He was a director without a constituency. He had tried to strike a balance in a sharply divided political environment and wound up alienating both sides. He had to go.

Which is probably true.

Updates:

Politics as usual: "Democrats Wanted Comey Fired — Until Tuesday"

Heh!